RV Show = Game Changer

Last October 2013, I wrote a blog post about my idea dream for 2017. I even told all the key players in my life about it both in person and online (like my three bosses, Lil O and Mr. UpCyclist). At the time, I think the majority of those folks thought I was losing my mind and/or not ultra-serious - with the exception of one - my boss, CE. She smiled at the idea and said we would honk at each other in our trailers/RVs.

Fast forward to now and my family - Lil O and Mr. UpCyclist - are totally on board.

The game changer was an RV show.

My family and I had never really checked out RVs/trailers before. Sure, we pass them all the time in Colorado, but we had never really been onboard one. That changed last weekend when an RV show came to Breckenridge. We had the opportunity to stand in about ten of them and ask a zillion questions.

That show changed everything.

Change #1: We learned that adorable, adventure vans like the white one above are way, way, way too small to live in for a year - unless you are 20 years old, single, with a medium-sized dog, and you are a pro-cyclist. Vans, like the Sprinter above, are totally cool - just not spacious enough for us for an entire year of living on the road. That really surprised me as I adore Sprinters and that genre of vehicle.

Change #2: We need space for home-schooling (although, road-schooling might be more appropriate) and for Mr. U and I to work, in general. Most of the RVs we checked out had clever spaces for working like this pull-out desk Lil O is pretend using below. This desk, by the way, is right up front as part of the passenger seat - clever!

Change #3: We plan on living in our RV/trailer for an entire year. Thus, we really want modern conveniences like showers, toilets, kitchens, etc. right in the RV. What surprised me was how nice and sometimes fancy the RV amenities were. I'm talking lovely showers, full and half-bathrooms, washer/dryer combos, and kitchens with islands.

Change #4: We have a ton of gear. Currently, we travel with five bikes, one Diggler Scooter, a healthy stash of art supplies, my sewing machine, plus during ski season we have three pairs of skis and two snowboards (plus snowshoes) and gosh forbid we start bringing our kayaking gear - we have three whitewater boats + paddles. To make a long gear story short, we need storage space outside of the elements, preferably. The clever RV, below, has a "toy hauler" in the back with a queen-sized, lofted bed overhead. Mr. UpCyclist and Lil O were both in heaven scheming how they would use this back storage space.

Change #5: Our family does not agree on what size RV we need (I think we've ruled out doing a trailer, by the way; we all would prefer to drive and have access to our stuff simultaneously). Lil O and Mr. U want a very spacious RV - like the photo below or the toy hauler RV above. I don't think any of us want the disco lights like the one below has - ha! However, Mr. U makes a great point: This will be our home for a full-year. We don't want to be on top of each other. We all need space to chill, work/learn, and rejuvenate. We aren't trying to camp or go glamping. This RV will literally be our home on wheels.

Change #6: Personally, I would prefer a medium-sized RV like the one pictured below. Or at least, that's how I feel at the moment. I think this size would be more maneuverable, guzzle less gas, and still provide enough space for our family of four (Jedi included, of course.) My goal this fall is to check out more medium-sized RVs in Maryland to see if that size is a reality or not. Any Marylanders are welcome to join me!

Change #7: Seeing the RVs in person made the 2017 idea seem like a total reality. Lil O, Mr. U and I have been talking about it ever since and really thinking about how to make a year in an RV work - financially especially.

As an aside, I've been stalking blogs of families who live full-time in RVs either to "live lightly" and/or because they want to have an adventure like us. This blog currently has my interest. I love this mom's honesty about RV living, road-schooling and sex! Ha!

I'm guessing you might have thoughts or advice on RV living, what size RV makes the most sense, etc. If you do, would you mind emailing me or leaving your comments below? I'd love to hear more perspectives since I am a total newbie to the RV scene.

All the best,

Jen

PS - Stephanie, if you are reading this, I will definitely contact your sister when I get back to Maryland. Thank you for always offering her as a resource :)